Which Wich Project PB&J Partners with Sysco to Spread Even More Love on National PB&J Day

Posted on March 30, 2016.

Brand to Host April 2nd ‘Spreading Parties’ Nationwide With Goal of Feeding 100,000 People in Need

Just one year after setting the Guinness World Record for most sandwiches made in one hour, Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, the award-winning fast casual concept, is setting its sights on helping even more people in need by making and donating 100,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to local charitable organizations nationwide during the month of April. The ambitious effort, coordinated through Which Wich’s philanthropic campaign Project PB&J, kicks off on April 2 on National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day when Which Wich locations across the country will host ‘Spreading Parties’—one-day events where employees and volunteers whip up thousands of PB&J sandwiches to donate to those in need in their local communities.

To make an even bigger impact in 2016, several Which Wich markets throughout the country will also host larger Spreading Parties in conjunction with foodservice supplier Sysco, including Which Wich owners in Phoenix, Houston, Denver, Albuquerque, San Diego, and Dallas/Fort Worth. The events are the latest steps in the brand’s continuing effort to transform the brown-bag lunch staple into a way to help feed those in need.

“We believe that the simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich can make the world a better place,” said Jeff Sinelli, founder, CEO and Chief Vibe Officer of Which Wich. “By combining peanut butter, jelly and love, we are helping to connect with the communities we serve, and make a lasting impact on those who need a helping hand. With each of our stores committed to being a part of this huge effort, we can truly make a difference around the world.”

Project PB&J was founded by Sinelli in 2014 to help battle hunger in the brand’s hometown of Dallas and across the country. PB&J was the first wich created for the brand, and Sinelli and his wife Courtney chose to use it as a way for Which Wich to show its support for those who are less fortunate. Through Project PB&J, for every PB&J sandwich purchased at a Which Wich location, one is also donated to a local charitable organization, and another is banked in the brand’s global fund for emergency situations. Charity partners through the program include Boys and Girls Clubs, The Salvation Army and homeless and emergency shelters.

Last year, Which Wich made history with its Project PB&J Spreading Parties. In Dallas, more than 500 franchisees, corporate staff and volunteers created 26,710 sandwiches in a single hour, setting the new world record. The team used 2,210 loaves of bread, 2,550 pounds of peanut butter and 2,065 pounds of jelly. At the end, every single sandwich was wrapped, packaged and immediately delivered to more than 20 area charities and organizations.

“This year, we’re setting a system-wide goal to make and donate 100,000 PB&J sandwiches during the month of April,” Sinelli said. “Those sandwiches can make a massive positive impact across the country, and I’m confident that we’ll reach that goal because of the dedication from our franchisees and their passion for giving back to their communities.”

Which Wich currently has locations in 39 states and the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Panama, Guatemala, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. New territories remain available across the United States with a heavy focus on the addition of new locations in Chicago, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Washington D.C./Baltimore metro areas. The brand is also focused on international expansion across Europe and Asia.

Which Wich Superior Sandwiches was founded in Dallas in late 2003 by restaurant entrepreneur Jeff Sinelli. The national sandwich franchise chain is best known for its customizable sandwiches, creative ordering system, and personalized sandwich bag. In 2014, QSR named Which Wich one of their “2014 Best Franchise Deals” and Forbes listed Which Wich as one of their 2014 “30 Best Franchises To Buy.” Which Wich is also the recipient of the 2015 Nation’s Restaurant News MenuMasters “Healthful Innovations” award. Which Wich currently has 400 locations open or in development in 39 states and 10 countries. For more information, visit www.whichwich.com.

Which Wich’s Project PB&J program aims to aid in the fight against hunger by allowing customers the chance to participate in the donation of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to organizations in local communities who provide food for those in need. Which Wich created a nonprofit foundation, Which Wich Cares Foundation, to carry out its global community outreach effort known as Project PB&J. Which Wich founders Jeff and Courtney Sinelli share a love for the PB&J sandwich and after supporting hundreds of charitable causes over the last decade, they wanted a more direct path to helping people. It occurred to them that maybe they could change the world by giving away PB&Js. Project PB&J was started on January 1, 2014 to bring comfort and comfort food to those in the world who need it; to let them know that someone out there cares.